Dracaena plant named ‘BRONZE BAY’

ABSTRACT

The new variety ‘BRONZE BAY’ is a cultivar of the  Dracaena deremensis  plants. It can reach 1.5 m length in a 21 cm diameter pot, with an average of approximately 30-35 leaves per plant. The arrangement of the leaves are base wrapped around the stem. Shows a bright light green colored foliage, with central yellow stripes.

Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant: Dracaena deremensis.

Variety denomination: ‘BRONZE BAY’.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dracaena plant, botanically known as Dracaena deremensis of the family of Asparagaceae, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘BRONZE BAY’.

Dracaena is a monocotyledonous and tropical foliage plant which can be produced as a single or multi-stemmed plant, used mainly as a house plant for interior use or outdoors in shades in zones 9 or 10 only.

The new Dracaena ‘BRONZE BAY’ originated from an induced mutation over the Dracaena deremensis var. ‘LIMELIGHT’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,793). The new Dracaena ‘BRONZE BAY’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Julio Gamboa Ceciliano as a single sprouting within a controlled environment, in Baltimore, Matina, Limón province, Costa Rica.

‘BRONZE BAY’ was grown in tropical lowlands in Costa Rica with day lengths of 12 to 13 hours and ambient temperatures of 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The light levels in lux were 30 K and the level of relative humidity was 80%.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dracaena ‘BRONZE BAY’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed in 2008 in Baltimore, Matina, Limón province, and demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘BRONZE BAY’, which in combination distinguish this Dracaena as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Light green colored foliage, and yellow color stripes in the         center of the leaf.     -   2. Wide and lanceolate leaves, 42-45 cm long and supported in a         rosette.     -   3. 52 cm-1.5 m plant height in a 21 cm diameter pot.     -   4. Erect Plant habit     -   5. Plants of the new Dracaena ‘BRONZE BAY’ differ from plants of         the parental cultivar, Dracaena deremensis ‘LIMELIGHT’ (U.S.         Plant Pat. No. 12,793) and the commercial cultivar Dracaena         deremensis ‘HAWAIIAN SUNSHINE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,739) in         the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison between ‘BRONZE BAY’, ‘LIMELIGHT’, and ‘HAWAIIAN SUNSHINE’ Most similar Parent Dracaena Dracaena deremensis New Cultivar deremensis ‘HAWAIIAN Dracaena ‘LIMELIGHT’ SUNSHINE’ Charac- deremensis (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S. Plant Pat. teristic ‘BRONZE BAY’ No. 12,793) No. 13,739) Plant Less vigorous More vigorous More vigorous Vigor Color Bright, light green Bright, glossy, Bright, glossy dark colored foliage, yellow-green foliage green foliage with with central which darkens to light green yellow stripes light-green as it central stripes matures Shape Lanceolate leaves Lanceolate and Lanceolate and on a rosette leaves on a rosette leaves on a rosette Texture of Smooth and waxy Smooth and waxy Smooth and waxy leaves Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Dracaena deremensis ‘BRONZE BAY’ is the commercial cultivar ‘HAWAIIAN SUNSHINE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,739).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dracaena deremensis cultivar ‘BRONZE BAY’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘BRONZE BAY’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a six-month old plant of Dracaena ‘BRONZE BAY’ in a 21 cm diameter pot.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a six-month old plant of Dracaena ‘BRONZE BAY’ in a 21 cm diameter pot.

FIGS. 3A-3B show a close-up view of the typical leaves of Dracaena ‘BRONZE BAY’ from a six-month old plant (upper side 3A, under side 3B).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Dracaena ‘BRONZE BAY’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may show phenotypical changes with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Dracaena cultivar ‘BRONZE BAY’ as grown in open-field conditions at Baltimore, Matina, Limón province, Costa Rica, which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Average temperature in Baltimore is 31° C. during the day and 24° C. at night. Plants grow under natural light conditions.

Plants of the new Dracaena cultivar ‘BRONZE BAY’ are grown under light conditions of about 80% shade from natural sunlight and about 80% relative humidity. No supplementary artificial light is necessary. Plants of the new Dracaena ‘BRONZE BAY’ are given 1) a liquid 24-8-16 fertilizer every 15 days, and 2) a granular Nutricote 18-6-12 fertilizer every 6 weeks in raining season. No growth retardants are used when growing plants of the new Dracaena ‘BRONZE BAY’.

Color references were made according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) on line rhscf.orgfree.com. The photographs and descriptions were made during the dry season in Baltimore, Matina, Limón province, Costa Rica when outdoor day average temperature was 31° C. The age of the plants described is 8 months old.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Dracaena deremensis.         -   Variety denomination.—‘BRONZE BAY’. -   Parentage: Dracaena deremensis ‘LIMELIGHT’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.     12,793). -   Optimal growth conditions:     -   -   Light intensities.—High adaptability to outdoor or indoor             conditions.         -   Temperature.—Day: 18° C. to 28° C. Night: 14° C. to 22° C.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to temperatures between             12° C. and 35° C.         -   Fertilization.—A liquid 24-8-16 fertilizer every 15 days,             and a granular Nutricote 18-6-12 fertilizer every 6 weeks.         -   Growth regulators.—Not necessary. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative, by air layer or rooted cuttings.         -   Rooting habit description.—Easy to root. Roots are mostly             fibrous and finely branched.         -   Time to initiate roots.—15 to 22 days at 20-25° C.         -   Faster time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 30 to 45 days             at 20-25° C. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth rate.—Approximately 77 cm annually.         -   Form.—Monocot; leaves whorled; leaf bases wrap around the             stem.         -   Plant height.—Maximum of 4 m when grown in the ground and 1             m when grown in a container.         -   Plant width.—Single stem plant has an overall plant diameter             of 56-76 cm wide.         -   Stem-length.—About 3.5 m when grown in ground; about 1 m             when grown in 21 cm size container.         -   Diameter.—About 56-76 cm.         -   Texture.—Rough.         -   Color.—RHS N144C.         -   Strength.—Strong and durable.         -   Internode length.—About 20 mm to 40 mm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity.—About 30-35 leaves.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Single, alternate; leaves             whorled; leaf bases wrap around the stem.         -   Leaf length.—About 40-45 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 6-8 cm.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Lanceolated.         -   Apex shape.—Acute, triangular, and curved downwards.         -   Base shape.—Clasping to stem.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper Surface: Smooth and waxy texture. Under             Surface: Smooth and waxy texture.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Color of mature leaf.—Upper Surface: RHS N144C, and several             RHS 3B complete and incomplete central stripes. Lower             Surface: RHS N144C, and several RHS 3B complete and             incomplete central stripe.         -   Color of immature leaf.—Upper Surface: RHS N144C, and             several RHS 3B complete and incomplete central stripes.             Lower Surface: RHS N144C, and several RHS 3B complete and             incomplete central stripe.         -   Central stripes average width.—2.5-3 cm.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Longitudinal/parallel to the midrib             Color.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None. -   Inflorescence description: None observed. -   Weather resistance: Drought tolerant. -   Disease/pest resistance: None observed. -   Disease/pest susceptibility: None observed. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Dracaena plant named ‘BRONZE BAY’, as described and illustrated herein. 